When Diana was a baby, I played with her feet all the time, calling it tickle toes. To this day (she's 9 years now) when I say tickle toes, she lifts her foot for me to tickle it. I show her the clippers, (I use human toenail clippers,) and when she sees me pick them up, she's ready. She stands on top of the spare cage where I dose her meds every morning and we clip toesies. I just did them yesterday in about 2 minutes. Teach them young what those are and that it doesn't hurt.

 

I used to do Murphy's when he was a sweetie, but not now. He made a loud pop/click noise with every clip.

 

I bend my wrist around, coming from behind, and hold each toenail between my thumb and forefinger. If I over cut I cut myself so you better believe I will not over cut.

I take only about one sixteenth inch at a time. Just the point.

Annie

 

 

How do you manage to keep their beaks away from the clipper?  Both of mine grab at it with determination. 

I cheat. When mine are climbing inside the cage I'll play with their feet too, and take the clippers and just nip the ends a tiny bit. Never had a problem.

With Tickles I can use a file on her feet when she's in the cage.  If I try the clipers...she freaks....Ruby I can't get them near her feet..nor can I hold them.  I've tried hiding the clippers in my hand, sneak up on a toe that's sticking through the bars..but nope....once that clipper shows.....zoom....off she goes to another part of the cage to look at me with both surprise and disgust. 

I think it's just that Diana has always been so trusting and so laid back. Not much scares her.

Murphy used to let me but as he got older he got so cranky that I wouldn't try now. He used to nip at my hand and I'd say "Don't do that" and he'd stop. Nowadays he bites for blood.

I used to be able to stand Maxi on my knee and clip wings and toenails but since her leg injury she doesn't trust me anymore. She got picked up and sent to the vet too many times to trust me. The vet's office means pain.

I used to clip my macaw's toenails thru the bars, too. He hung from the top every night and he was easy to do. I aso gave him a Diamond Deb nail file to play with and that helped with allowing me to smooth rough edges.

Annie

I know the quik recedes in cat's and dog's nails if you cut the nails more often until they stay short enough.  I can't see the quik in bird's nails to tell if that works.  I've always wondered the same....but I bet it does. 

You can see the quick in a bird with light colored nails, but am I right that Clouseau is a grey? Black nails--can't see the quick. Yes, clip just the point, then wait a week and clip it again. If it bleeds the second time, wait longer next time but not too long or the quick will be back down near the tip again.

 

Have you seen pictures of the correct curve of a parrots toenails? They should never be short and blunted. He needs the curve in order to hold onto his perch while sleeping. Some birds will fall if their nails are too short. I had an amazon who could not be clipped at all or she would fall to the floor as soon as she went to sleep.

 

You really need to buy a pair of new clippers just for the bird. Never use them on a dog and a bird. The dog walks thru poop and other nasties in the yard and the bird shouldn't be clipped with those clippers. In fact, all bird instruments should be kept separate from any other animal's things. Their bacteria is not the same and dog stuff can make birds very sick.

Annie

 

Here is a site that has a drawing of an overgrown nail and the way it should look after clipping.

Annie

Dang...I sure wish Ruby's tonails looked just like the second one there....then I would have no worries.  Well...if it looked like the first one I'd at least be able to see where that quik is.  Hers are way too long I see!  BAD BAD bird Mom! 

I think with mine being able to alk on concrete flooring on the patio it must keep their nails trimmed... all except magnolia who has crippled little feet and two of her claws reach for the sky... those have to be clipped continuously... and she screams bloody murder the minute I pick up the kittie scissors, then will get interested in what I'm doing...

 

Too2

 

 

 

I have a human toenail clipper that is just for the birds. I dip it into peroxide before and after each use.

Something to also be aware of.... These styptic pencils that are used to stop a nicked nerve, Some of them have an ingredient that will actually chemically burn to clot.

Better to keep corn starch around in my opinion or find out from the vet what is safe to use on our birds....

Just my opinion.  

I have a TAG  and I  lie her on her back and use an emery board. She takes her other foot and holds the board also and she seems to enjoy it. I don't even get close to drawing blood and the nails might be better because of this.